Joseph kbech



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

JOSEPH KEECH, 0F VVATERIJOO, NEW YGRK.

WASHIBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,811, dated April 10, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH 'KEECH, of Waterloo, in the county of Senecaand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode ofConstructing Washboards; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

The nature o my invention consists in the peculiar form given to thecorrugation or crimp of the rubbing surface or zinc plate, they beingformed into an obtuse angular shape longitudinally, containing threeangular points in the length of the crimp which extends from side toside of the frame crosswise. The crimp being centrally advanced towardthe upper end of the board, and laterally receding or inclining towardthe lower end, the two receding or downward angles beinL at a pointequidistant from the center ofi the plateto the stile or side of theboard, the location of which is calculated to be the most direct spotwhereA the hands would naturally move downward over the surface when inthe act of washing. The advantages claimed in this mode of crimping therubbing surface is, that when the clothes are moved downward over thesurface for the purpose of receiving the vibratory action necessary inremoving the filth and stains from them, that there is not only agreater amount of friction produced with the same degree of labor butthere is also in addition an inward or side pressure having a tendencyto press or contract the portion of clothes confined beneath the handsas they come in contact with the lateral portion of the resisting sideof the crimp first, and bearing centrally until they are passed over theelevated part of the crimp, at which time the clothes are at liberty tospring back and take their natural position by tile contraction of thefabric, thus causing a change of position of the clothes at the passageof each crimp, consequently a more rapid purifying of the articleoperated upon. This is the practical effect of the two outward anglesover which the hands move, the center angle produces a similar effect,but produces an opposite movement of the clothes as the central part ofthe crimp comes in contact first with the clothes having an outwardresistance until the article is passed over the elevated part of thecrimp, then the ,clothes take their natural position as in the outsideangles.

The accompanying drawing is a face view of a section in full width,showing the upper end of the frame and a part of the zinc plate.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct boards embracing myimprovement, I would say that they can be made in either of the ordinaryways of making boards, either with the full thick back or with the thinback with round cross ties the general construction being the same.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The obtuse angular shape given t0 the crimp or corrugationslongitudinally constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as,and for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH KEECH. Witnesses:

IVM. KNOX, HORACE FIELD GUSTIN.

